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Platini “thinking about” whether Under 21 tourno will still go ahead in Israel after protest at UEFA HQ

Michel Platini, president of UEFA, the European football governing body, urged those calling for the 2013 Under 21 tournament to be withdrawn from host country Israel to “let me think about it.” met with protestors urging him to cancel Israel’s hosting of the 2013 Under 21 in Israel (see update below).

Platini’s less than firm statement that the tournament would go ahead in Israel as planned meeting and a statement from a UEFA official was a further sign the mounting Palestinian and international campaign against allowing Israel to host the tournament is being heard at UEFA headquarters. Platini added, “I’ll take a decision within the year.”

Platini’s spoke at a press conference (see video) in which he explained what he had told campaigners who occupied the foyer of UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday. Some were allowed to meet with Platini, as the Associated Press reported:

Protesters chanted slogans and carried banners and placards critical of Platini before some were invited into his office following a meeting of his executive committee.

Olivia Zemor, a spokeswoman for the group, said they told Platini that UEFA was “encouraging war crimes” by choosing Israel to host the eight-nation event in June. “He had no answer to that,” Zemor told reporters, describing it as a “shame to grant Israel this honor.”

Platini spent 30 minutes meeting with the protesters, delaying a scheduled news conference to report on his board’s meeting.

It is likely that UEFA will need to hear from many more people in many more countries if it is to take the right decision.

Racism in Israeli football: Platini complicit?

An issue that has gotten little attention even from those campaigning against Israel hosting the UEFA tournament is the rampant racism within Israeli football. This reared its head in recent days when a row broke out because the manager of the notoriously racist Beitar Jerusalem football team wanted to hire two players from Chechyna.

Fans, whose frequent chant is “Death to the Arabs,” object to having Muslims on their team. The atmosphere at some games has been likened to a “Klan rally” with racism directed at Arab and black players.

Following the initial publication of this post, it had been suggested that Platini’s “let me think about it” comment in the video was taken out of context and was in fact in response to a different question related to whether he would stand again as president of UEFA.

However, in a phone call with Electronic Intifada writer Adri Nieuwhof today, a UEFA spokesperson confirmed that Platini’s comments were in direct response to a question about hosting the 2013 Under 21 in Israel and that indeed Platini “is constantly reflecting on the decision.”

Update 29 January: What did Platini really say?

Despite a UEFA spokesman’s unambiguous affirmation to The Electronic Intifada that a final decision about the 2013 Under 21 finals in Israel is still under consideration, there is still doubt that part of Platini’s response, in the press conference, in the video at the top of this post, was related to that issue.

The full video of the press conference can be seen on the UEFA website. The question to which Platini responds “let me think about it,” is asked at approximately 33:10. It does not appear to be related directly to the 2013 contest in Israel.

Nevertheless, the fact that Platini met with protestors, and the words of the UEFA spokesman, suggest the issue of Israel’s hosting remains a live one.

Alec: precisely why of all peoples in modern history they should cringe at such sadistic behaviour--not perpetuate it. Indeed, the people of Jewish culture suffered at the hands of the Russians and Europeans. Yet historically the response from Zionist Israel has been to court favour with the former oppressors and to replicate their experienced torment against the Arabs. This is nonsensical. There are many within the Jewish faith/culture who work for peaceful, respectful, cooperative relations. But there are also irrational Zionists who indulge their wrath. The call for BDS is an international effort to thwart that Zionist rage. The BDS campaign reflects our learning from history: racist behaviour will destroy both the actor and the victim. Enough is enough. Isn't it time to live and let live?